SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Central Coast News first told you about missing autistic teen Shyanne White who was found on a bus in San Francisco raped and beaten.
But this is not an isolated incident. People with mental disabilities are four to ten times more likely to become a victim of a crime.
"What they did was violent and evil," says Shyanne's father, Jesse.
But not uncommon.
White now has to deal with helping his daughter heal again.
Shyanne White is one of the 16 percent of autistic children who are sexually
abused.
"Sexual abuse..it is higher among people with
disabilities and a lot of times these are people that report it," says Psychologist Lynn Koegel.
"A lot
of people with autism and other disabilities are non verbal and they can't
report it so it may be even higher than what we know."
Koegel says the biggest problem is there are not enough
sexual education programs for people with autism.
"People with disabilities usually have problem with their
language and so there needs to be some programs that are developed so they avoid
becoming victims of crime," says Koegel.
"And unfortunately there is some research to suggest
teachers don't always feel comfortable teaching sex education to people with
disabilities so this is just an area that's really weak."
She says autistic people have delayed ability to properly
express themselves making them easy targets and their healing process is even
more tricky.
"Often times aren't able to partake in the programs that
are effective," says Koegel. "There really is a need for more programs to really help this
population."
